What is a tire contact patch?

A tire’s contact patch or footprint represents the amount of tire tread in contact with the road when the tire is inflated to the proper temperature.

Tire contact patch dimensions vary with load, air pressure, tire aspect ratio

A tire contact patch’s final dimensions depend on the tire size and inflation pressure being used, as well as how much load is being carried. A compact car tire’s contact patch size is about 25 square inches, a bit bigger than the size of a 4” x 6” printed picture.

The shape of a tire’s contact patch is also dependent on the tire’s profile (aspect ratio). Most passenger car and light truck tires feature higher profile tire sizes that typically have longer and narrower contact patches; while most touring and performance tires feature lower profile sizes that have shorter and wider contact patches.

Posted on May 25, 2023 by Rick Muscoplat